Electrochromic Materials and Applications: From Smart Windows to Energy Storage Devices

Dongmei Dong, PhD
Assistant Professor
Physics and Astronomy Department
Rowan University

Abstract: Climate change, though influenced by natural cycles, has historically accelerated when societies overextend their consumption of natural resources. Today, we face an urgent need to mitigate climate impacts by adopting environmentally responsible and sustainable energy technologies. Buildings alone account for up to 40% of global primary energy losses due to lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This awareness of sustainability and carbon emission reduction has driven rapid advancements in electrochromic (EC) materials and devices, particularly for smart windows and energy-efficient architectural applications. EC materials, which can dynamically modulate transparency and absorbance, enable “smart” window glazing that can reduce energy consumption in buildings by up to 20%. Beyond architectural applications, EC supercapacitors represent an emerging technology with diverse uses in portable electronics, optoelectronics, and display technologies, enhancing both energy storage and functional design. The integration of EC energy storage devices allows for visible energy status indicators, adding convenience for users in managing devices such as lighting, LEDs, and other electronics. Aligned with renewable energy systems (e.g., fuel cells, photovoltaics, and batteries), EC technologies share a foundation in electrochemical processes, limited by thermodynamic constraints but also influenced by kinetic factors. Enhancing these kinetics is essential for improving performance and requires in-depth, multidisciplinary investigations at the nano and atomic levels. This comprehensive approach to EC technology not only promises to advance smart building applications but also contributes to the broader field of green energy solutions.

Biography: Dongmei Dong, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy Department, Rowan University, NJ, US. In her academic path, Dr. Dong studied at Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, Université de Bordeaux and Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, France, and completed her PhD in condensed matter physics at Beihang University, China. She worked as a postdoc researcher in the chemistry department at Université de Moncton, Canada, Purdue University, the State University of New York at Buffalo, and Research Scientist in Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Florida International University, US. Her research interests include fuel cells, sensor development, and pseudocapacitive energy storage, spanning physics, chemistry, and materials science and engineering. She is the PI of the discretionary project of Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck (M2FCT) consortium, funded by DoE EERE. In 2024, she also received the early-career award from the ECS sensor division, and NSF I-Corp award.